Wildside 08.11.19

Joshua’s Final Encouragement

Bible Passage:

Main Point: Joshua encouraged the people to worship God alone.

Key Passage:

Big Picture Question: Whom can we trust? We can trust God to take care of us.

Small Group opening

(10–15 minutes)

Large Group Bible study

(25–30 minutes)

Small Group activities

(25–30 minutes)

Leader BIBLE STUDY

Joshua was “getting on in years” (), so he gathered together the people of Israel to give an exhortation.

First, Joshua reminded them that God had fought for His people, and He had kept every one of His promises. () Joshua wanted the people to remember and to live their lives based on what they knew to be true about God: God can be trusted. He is good, and He is faithful.

In , Joshua issued a challenge: “Be very strong and continue obeying all that is written in the book of the law of Moses.” Reading, studying, and obeying God’s Word is a mark of belief in God. Joshua reminded the people that they were successful over their enemies because of their obedience to God.

Finally, Joshua gave the Israelites a warning. Just as all the good things God promised had been fulfilled, so would all the bad things He promised if the Israelites disobeyed Him. (See ,.)

Joshua gathered the people at the place where God had made a promise to Abraham. (See .) Joshua reminded the leaders of the past—from the birth of Isaac to Israel’s escape from Egypt. Joshua said, “Choose for yourselves today the one you will worship … As for me and my family, we will worship Yahweh” ().

The Israelites had a choice: Continue to worship God or choose to serve other gods. In response to God’s faithfulness to His promises, the Israelites renewed their covenant to be faithful to the Lord.

As you share the story of Joshua’s legacy with kids, point them to a greater legacy found in Jesus Christ. After Christ’s resurrection, He sent His disciples out to tell the nations about Him. Jesus calls all people who trust in Him to tell others about Him.

The BIBLE Story

Joshua’s Final Encouragement

Many years had passed since Joshua and the Israelites had defeated Jericho, Ai (AY igh), and the kings of the land. God allowed the Israelites to rest from battles against their enemies. Now Joshua was getting old and knew he would die soon. He gathered all the people of Israel because he had some important things to say to them.

Joshua said, “You have seen everything the Lord your God has done—He has fought your battles for you.”

Then he said, “Be careful to obey everything that is in the book of the law of Moses,” and he said, “If you disobey God, He will no longer help you win battles. In fact, you will die here if you disobey Him.”

Joshua reminded all the people about the things God had done for them in the past. Joshua reminded them of everything, like when God called Abraham and gave him a son, Isaac, and when God gave Isaac two sons, Jacob and Esau. He reminded them that Jacob’s children went to Egypt, where God sent Moses and Aaron.

Joshua told the people about how God had rescued the Israelites from the Egyptians, bringing them safely across the Red Sea and saving them from the Egyptians who were chasing them. Joshua reminded them of the many battles they had fought and won because God was fighting for them. God had done so many great things for His people!

Joshua commanded the people to make a choice. “Fear the Lord and worship Him. If you don’t want to worship God, choose to worship the gods your fathers worshiped. As for me and my family, we will worship Yahweh,” he said.

The people replied, “We will certainly not abandon the Lord to worship other gods! We know how much God has done for us, and we love Him!”

Joshua warned the people, “If you do abandon God to worship other gods, God will turn against you and harm you. He will destroy you, after all of the good things He has done for you!”

“No!” the people said. “We will worship Yahweh!”

On that day, Joshua made a covenant with the people. He set up a large stone under an oak tree next to the sanctuary of the Lord.

Joshua said, “This stone will be a reminder of your duty to serve the Lord, who fulfilled every promise in bringing you into this land.” Then Joshua sent the people away, and each man went home.

Christ Connection: As Joshua prepared for his own death, he left a legacy of obedience to God. After Jesus’ death and resurrection, He appeared to the disciples and left them with a legacy: to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything Jesus commanded. ()

Small Group Opening

Session Title: Joshua’s Final Encouragement

Bible Passage:

Main Point: Joshua encouraged the people to worship God alone.

Key Passage:

Big Picture Question: Whom can we trust? We can trust God to take care of us.

Welcome time

Greet each kid as he or she arrives. Use this time to connect to your group and make sure each student is checked in.

As kids arrive, invite them to share about a time they felt encouraged. Explain that encouraged means “to feel confidence or hope.”

Say • What kind of words make you feel encouraged? What might you say to someone who needs to be encouraged? Today we are going to hear how Joshua, a leader of the Israelites, encouraged the people.

Table Wars

Large Group LEADER

Session Title: Joshua’s Final Encouragement

Bible Passage:

Main Point: Joshua encouraged the people to worship God alone.

Key Passage:

Big Picture Question: Whom can we trust? We can trust God to take care of us.

For some cool reason all of our stories so far have included animals of some kind. Today we have a new animal. This animal is the biggest land animal in the world. It can lift up to 600 pounds, and its trunk contains around 10,000 muscles. No way! Any guesses? [Allow kids to guess.] Yes! An elephant.

You know what they say about elephants, right? Elephants never forget. Now, I’m not sure how they figured that out, but scientists say that elephants can remember faces. They remember other elephants, even if they haven’t seen each other in several years.

That reminds me of our Bible story today. Now, before I tell you more, let’s take a step back to look at what we have learned so far.

• Last time, we saw how God punished Achan for his sin. Then God fought for His people at Ai. Who was the Israelites’ leader when they entered the promised land? (Joshua)

That’s right. Moses had died before the Israelites entered the promised land, so God chose Joshua to lead. But now Joshua was getting old and he wanted to encourage the Israelites. Listen carefully to hear what Joshua said before he died.

Tell the Bible story

Open your Bible to . Let’s watch the Bible story video “Joshua’s Final Encouragement.”

Leader • Joshua had led the Israelites into the promised land. He was their leader after Moses died. Now Joshua was getting old. He had been through so much with God’s people! Joshua had seen all the wonderful things God had done, and he wanted to make sure all the people remembered! So Joshua made a speech.

Let’s see how well you listened. Raise your hand if you can fill in the blank.

Joshua spoke to the Israelites because he was getting _______. (old, )

Joshua said, “Be careful to _______ everything that is in the book of the law of Moses.” (obey, )

Joshua said, “If you disobey God, you will _______.” (die, )

Joshua reminded the Israelites about how God rescued His people from slavery in _______. (Egypt, )

Joshua said, “As for me and my family, we will _______ Yahweh.” (worship, )

The people said, “We will worship _______!” (Yahweh, the Lord; ,,)

Joshua left a legacy of obedience. After Jesus’ death and resurrection, He left a legacy to make _______ of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the _______ and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything Jesus commanded. (disciples, Son; )

Key passage

Show the key passage. Lead the boys and girls to read together .

Take the verse off the screen and challenge the girls to say the key passage from memory. Then challenge the boys. See who can say it the fastest.

Leader • Great job memorizing this verse. These are important words to remember. God said these words to Joshua and they can remind us that God is with us too.

Discussion starter video

Leader • In the Bible story today, Joshua told the people to make a choice. They could do the wrong thing—worship false gods—or they could do the right thing—worship Yahweh, the one true God. He told them not to do both. Think about that as you watch this video.

Show the “Unit 7, Session 5” discussion starter video.

Leader • What just happened? Samuel could not decide between sausage gravy or strawberry gelatin, so he just mixed them together and had both. Did everything turn out OK? No way!

God did not want the people of Israel to worship false gods at the same time they were worshiping Him. Only God deserves our worship!

Lead boys and girls to discuss things kids might worship besides God. What would that look like? What could they do about it?

Big picture question

Leader • I am so glad we have the Bible! God gave us His Word so we could know Him. When we learn about all the things He did in the past and all the promises He made for the future, we discover who God is. He is good and He loves us! And we can definitely trust Him. Whom can we trust? We can trust God to take care of us.

Pray

Leader • I know it can be hard to trust Him sometimes, but when you feel afraid or anxious, pray and ask God to help you. Ask Him to help you trust Him. In fact, let’s pray together right now.

Lord God, thank You for the Bible to help us remember the wonderful thing You have done. We know we can trust You to take care of us. Help us trust You. We love You, and we worship You alone. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Dismiss to small groups

Small Group LEADER

Session Title: Joshua’s Final Encouragement

Bible Passage:

Main Point: Joshua encouraged the people to worship God alone.

Key Passage:

Big Picture Question: Whom can we trust? We can trust God to take care of us.

Key passage activity

Form groups of three or four kids. Point to one group to begin by shouting the first word of . Then point to a second group to shout the second word.

Continue pointing to various groups as kids recite the entire key passage. You may choose to vary the speed of pointing between groups as if conducting a band. Repeat as kids master the verse.

Say • The words of this verse are God’s words to which leader? (Joshua)

Bible story review

Use string or tape to mark a line on the table. Guide kids to put a hand on the line. Designate one side of the line “false” and the other side of the line “true.”

Explain that you will make statements about the Israelites’ journey into the promised land. If kids believe the statement is true, they should move their hand to the “true” side of the line. If false, they should move it to the “false” side. If you prefer to play an elimination review game, any kid who moves to the wrong side is out.

Read the following statements one at a time to review this unit’s Bible stories. After each statement, instruct kids to reset by returning to the line.

The Israelites did not trust God to give them the promised land. (true; ; )

The spies reported that compared to the people in the promised land, they felt like grasshoppers. (true, )

The Israelites complained that there was no air conditioning in the wilderness. (false, no water; )

God told His people to look to the bronze calf to be healed. (false, bronze snake; )

God fought for His people and led them into Egypt. (false, into the promised land; )

The Israelites entered the promised land by crossing the Nile River. (false, the Jordan River; )

God punished Achan for his sin. Then God fought for His people at Ai. (true; ; )

Achan denied taking anything from the city of Jericho. (false, he confessed; )

Joshua encouraged the people to worship God alone. (true, )

The Israelites promised to worship Yahweh. (true; ,,)

Say • The Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years before God brought them into the promised land. The Israelites needed to conquer the land, so God fought for His people. Joshua led the people and encouraged them to be faithful to the one true God.

All of these experiences taught the Israelites that they could trust God. Whom can we trust? We can trust God to take care of us.

prayer

Distribute pencils and prayer cards. Prompt kids to think about what they might say if they could make a speech on national television. What do they think is the most important thing for people to know or remember?

Say • Before Joshua died, he made a speech to the Israelites. Joshua encouraged the people to worship God alone.

What message do you think everyone needs to hear?

Make sure they list out their prayer requests for this week and then close in prayer.